Doris Louise Compton

Saturday, 21 June 2025, Doris Louise Compton, age 71, of Morgantown, West Virginia, passed away peacefully at home with her family and treasured puppy, Baby, by her bedside; this, following a three-year battle with lung cancer and COPD.

“Dottie” was born to Calvin and Doris (Tate) Dayton on 30 October 1953 in New London, Connecticut. She married William “Bill” Marcellus Compton, on 7 February 1973 in New Orleans, Louisiana. For over twenty years, they made their family home together on Route 57 in Barbour County, West Virginia. Bill preceded Dottie in death in July of 2021. Also preceding her in death were: her cherished grandson, Chase Compton; her mother; her sisters Barbara Hollinquest, Sandra Dayton, and Kathleen Silman; and, her brother William Dayton. Surviving family includes: her daughters, Glenda, Amy, Tammy, and Jane; her sons, David and Joseph; her children-in-law, Doug Eakle, Martha Clark, Lucas McKinney, Mike Williams, and Lauren Pyles Compton; as well as, eighteen grandchildren and numerous great-grandchildren; her beloved sister and brother-in-law, Betsy and Carl Ritter; her brother, Calvin Dayton; her life-long best friend, Cora Wordell-Hamilton; and, her devoted champion and caretaker, Robert “Bob” Davies.

Dottie’s greatest joy was being a Mom (not just to her own children; but, also to any of their friends that happened to pile into her Suburban as it was making its way from band to cheerleading to sports practices over the years). She also loved: the ocean; camping at Audra State Park; horseback riding; boating on Cheat Lake; crocheting hats and blankets for NICU babies at WVU Children’s Hospital; caring for the elderly in her community; and, learning new things (from Spanish Guitar to charcoal drawing, macrame, cake-decorating, ceramic painting and even home renovating). Her resilience and formidable tenacity were legendary; and her grace and empathy were rivaled only by her sense of humor.

The family will host a memorial service from 4 PM to 5 PM at Wilcox Chapel, followed by a celebration of life fellowship reception in Burbick Hall from 5 PM to 7 PM, on the Battlers Knob campus in Philippi, West Virginia, on Sunday, 29 June 2025.